Mail-sack-delivering apparatus



(No Model.)

L. A. FISHER. MAIL SACK DELIVERING APPARATUS.

Patented Aug. 10,1897.

nonms versus co, moroumo, wunmcwu u. c.

7 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LAXVRENCE A. FISHER, OF DERBY STATION, PENNSYLVANIA.

MAlL-SACK-DELIVERING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 587,721, dated August 10, 1897.

Application filed October 2, 1896. Serial No- 607,6 74. (No model.)

1 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE A. FISHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Derry Station, in the county of Westmoreland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Sack- Delivering' Apparatus; and I do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in a mail-sack-delivering apparatus.

The invention has for its object the construction of a new and novel device of the above-described class and wherein the said device when relieved of the mail-bag will antomatically fold up the working parts and replace them within a box or receptacle where they will be out of the way when not in use, as well as being protected from inclement weather.

With the above objects in View the invention finally consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangements of parts to be herein after more specifically described.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein like figures of reference indicate similar parts in the several views shown, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device, a portion of which is in section and showing the device set up ready to deliver the mail-bag.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the same, a portion of the working parts being broken away and a portion shown in section. Fig. 3 is also an end view of the same, having a portion of the working parts broken away and a portion shown in section.

To put my invention into practice, I provide the box or receptacle 1, which is provided with the hinged lid 2. The said box or receptacle is intended to be placed within the ground, so that the lid will be flush with the surface of the ground. Pivoted to the end of the box by the bracket 3 and pin 4 is the post 5. At-

tached to the top of the post isa suitable device for loosely holding the arm 6, such as the link or clevis 7. Attached to the said arm and near its right-hand end is the weight 8, the object of which will be explained later on. A similar arm 9 is pivoted upon the side of the post by the pin 10 and is also provided with a weight 11. Pivoted to the lower end of the post by the pin 12 is the trigger 13, which is provided with the slot 14. The conmeeting-rod 15 is provided with the pin 16 at its lower end and is adapted to operate within the said trigger-slot. The upper end of the said connecting-rod is pivoted to the short end of arm 9 by the pin 17. Atthe bottom of the box or receptacle is secured the stop 18, which is adapted to engage with the point of the trigger and hold the post and mechanism in the upright position shown. Within the bottom of the said box or receptacle is arranged the small plunger 19, which extends through the bottom and is provided with the spiral spring 20. Secured to the under side of the said box is the bracket 21, and has pivoted thereto the right-angular-shaped arm 22, one end of which is adapted to extend upwardly and form a rest for the box-lid when the latter is open. said arm is pivoted to the lower end of the plunger-stem, as shown by the pin 23.

The operation of the device is as follows, (it being assumed that the device is set up as shown at Fig. 1 by the full lines:) The mailbag, which is designated at 24:,is attached to the ends of the arms 6 and 9 by means of the handles of the bag, as shown, and when the bag is removed from the said arms the upper arm 6 will be overbalanced by the weight 8 and assume an upright position and slide down the post and the end of the arm to which the weight is attached will enter into the keeper 25, which is attached to the post, and

securely hold it in the position shown by the dotted lines. At the same time the lower arm 9 will be forced down by the weight 11, thereby raising the connecting-rod 15, which in turn will raise and release the trigger 13 from the stop 18 and assume the positions as indicated by the dotted lines. The post then being relieved of its support will fallbackward (being slightly inclined that Way to overcome the gravity) and down into the box or recep The opposite end of thesition.

tacle. When the weight 8 comes in contact with the plunger 19, the latter is forced downward, operating the arm 22, as indicated by dotted lines upon Fig. 2, thereby automatically closing the lid of the box after the post and its mechanism have entered.

To reset the device, the lid of the box is opened and the post raised up to its former po- The arms are then reset to their former positions, the lower arm automatically setting the trigger to support the post. The mail-bagis then attached to the ends of the arms, as before, and the device is again ready for operation.

It will be readily apparent that the device as described and shown is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture as well as entirely automatic in its operations and requiring no attention whatever after it receives the mailbag.

Slight changes may be made in the detail parts of my invention without departing from the general spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully shown and described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is p 1. Amail-sack-delivery apparatus comprising an upright post provided with outwardlyextending arms, the outer ends of which are adapted to engage with and retain the mailsack, means for automatically operating each of said arms, and mechanism connected to one of the said arms whereby the removal of the mail-sack will cause the said post to fall down parallel with the road-bed, substantially as described.

2. In a mail-sack-delivering apparatus for railway service, the combination of a supportin g-post pivotally secured at its base and provided with outwardly-extended arms for engaging with and holding the mail-sack, of a mechanism connected to one of the said arms and the supporting-post whereby the removal of the mail-sack will cause the said arm to fold against the supporting-post and release the said supporting mechanism and cause the said post and its mechanism to fall down parallel with the roadbed ,substantially as shown and described.

3. In a mail-sack-delivering apparatus for railway service, the combination of a support: ing-post slightly inclined in the direction of its fall and provided with outwardly-extended arms for engaging with and holding the mailsack, a mechanism connected to one of the said arms and the supporting-post whereby the removal of the mail-sack will cause the said arm to fall, release the supporting mechanism, fold it up parallel with the supportingpost and cause the said post to fall down parallel'with the road-bed, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a mail-sack-delivery apparatus for railway service, the combination ofa slightlyinclined post provided with outwardly-extending arms to engage with and retain the mail-sack, and a supporting mechanism con- 5. In a mail-sack-deliveryapparatus for railway service the combination with the supporting post having outwardly extended arms to engage with and retain the mail-sack until removed, and a mechanism supporting the said delivery apparatus, a box or receptacle, having the supporting-post suitably attached thereto, a lid or cover for the same and mechanism attached to the said box or receptacle whereby the fall of the said delivery apparatus into the box or receptacle will cause the said mechanism to automatically close down the said lid when the said delivery apparatus has entered the box, subslan' tially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' LAWRENCE A. FISHER. \Vitnesses:

J. F. AMEND,

GEORGE FISHER. 

